Donegal slip to fourth successive league defeat against Waterford

Donegal slipped to a fourth successive Lidl NFL Division 1 loss as Waterford inflicted a 2-9 to 0-7 defeat on their hosts in Letterkenny. 

Donegal 0-7:2-9 Waterford

In the end, It was the visitors’ ability to find the back of the net that proved to be the big difference between the sides as Pat Sullivan’s team departed at the midpoint with a 2-3 to 0-4 lead. 

Kellyann Hogan and Katie Long were on the mark at either end early on but with Annie Fitzgerald racing through to goal on four minutes, the visitors instantly jumped three ahead. 

Hogan bumped that further with a pointed free. Things got even better for Waterford  when a Hogan free that bounced back off the crossbar was fired home from close range  by the lurking Lauren McGregor. 

On 18 minutes, Brid McMaugh made it an eight point game when she split the posts from outside the ‘21. Donegal finally stirred once more soon after as Suzanne White landed a free. 

Jodie McFadden followed that up with a brilliant effort that brought Maxi Curran’s outfit back in to within six at 2-3 to 0-3. Improving as they went, the hosts almost goaled themselves when Niamh Carr got on the end of a penetrating Amy Boyle Carr run but her shot deflected behind for a ‘45. 

Moments later, White also found herself in space in front of the net but her driven effort was straight at Waterford stopper Evelyn O’Brien, Before the short whistle, Boyle Carr did clear the crossbar  for a fourth Donegal over but at the changeover, five points separated the teams. 

By the three quarter hour mark those earlier green flags still divided matters on 2-6 to 0-6. Emma Murray and Hogan, with a pair of frees, were on the mark for Waterford while Boyle Carr and White, twice from placed balls, took Donegal’s closing tally to seven for the afternoon. 

Down the stretch Waterford’s Brid McMaugh added the last three points for the victors as they got set for the long journey home with three valuable NFL points for company. It doesn't get any easier for Donegal with an away clash against Cork up next. 

Donegal scorers: Donegal: Suzanne White 0-3,3f; Amy Boyle Carr 0-2; Jodie McFadden 0-1, Katie Long 0-1. 

Waterford scorers: Kellyann Hogan 0-4,4f; Brid McMaugh 0-4,2f; Annie Fitzgerald 1-0; Lauren McGregor 1-0; Emma Murray 0-1. 

Donegal: Aoife McColgan; Niamh Carr, Caoimhe Keon, Emer Gallagher; Amy Boyle Carr, Nicole McLaughlin, Tara Hegarty; Shelly Twohig, Laoise Ryan; Saskia Boyle, Katie Long, Katie Dowds; Jodie McFadden, Susanne White, Ciara McGarvey. 

Subs: Cait Gillespie for S Boyle (38), Shannon McGroddy for McFadden (41), Evelyn McGinley for Ryan (44), Codie Walsh for Long (54), Abigail Temple Asoko for Carr (60+1)

Waterford: Evelyn O’Brien; Cora Murray, Megan Dunford, Aoife Murray; Eve Power, Emma Murray, Hannah Power; Kellyann Hogan, Aoibhe Waring; Áine O’Neill, Annie Fitzgerald, Caragh McCarthy; Karen McGrath, Brid McMaugh, Lauren McGregor. 

Subs: Kate McGrath for Power (38), Katie Murray for McCarthy (44), Catherine Hynes for Fitzgerald (55), Molly Comerford for Hogan (57), Neesha Whelan and Aobhla Motherway for McGregor and O’Neill (both 60+1), Niamh Power for Murray (60+3). 

Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo).